North European Fleet J/111 2019 Series Sponsored by Sweeney

In a new initiative to build on the success of the J/111 2018 Worlds in Breskens, Netherlands, the North European J/111 Fleet has organised a Series competition for 2019. J/111 boats and crews will be competing for the new Paul Heys trophy, awarded to the overall points winner over the six scheduled regattas, which include:

Vice Admirals Cup - 10, 11, 12 May
Royal Southern Regatta - 18, 19 May
Royal Southern Regatta - 15, 16 June
Royal Southern Regatta - 13, 14 July
J Cup - 18, 19, 20 July
Royal Southern Regatta - 14, 15 September
There will also be a regatta in Breskens, Netherlands. Races are predominantly windward/leeward, with some round-the-cans. Ten boats from the UK, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland are signed up for the Series, so exciting, close, international Class racing is guaranteed. All J/111s are welcome to join the Series and race in any or all of the regattas. For more information, contact the NE Fleet Captain Simon Bamford at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Series has been sponsored by Sweeney (NED8337). Owner Hans Zwijnenburg’s generous contribution in his words is to ‘Promote one design racing in our J/111 Class.’

HELLY HANSEN Warsash Spring Series Starts Up

The Warsash Sailing Club on the Hamble River in the United Kingdom started its HELLY HANSEN Warsash Spring Series. The WSC PRO paid tribute to Paul Heys of J/U.K. In the Black fleet, leading the IRC 2 Class is Simon Perry’s J/111 JIRAFFE with a 1-2 for 3 points total. For more HELLY HANSEN Warsash Spring Series information, visit https://warsashspringseries.org.uk/2019/index.htm.

J/111 Wins Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race & Lincoln Race Week Regatta

Rob Date and crew from the J/111 SCARLET RUNNER 11 recently sailed in the 160.0nm Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race (South Australia), followed by the Teakle Classic Lincoln Week Regatta. Rob’s J/111 home port is near Melbourne in Victoria, so the crew sailed the 550+nm trip to Adelaide against the predominant westerly winds to compete in the regatta. The SCARLET RUNNER crew was, for the most part, inexperienced offshore ocean racers. The team included Rob’s daughter, his future son-in-law, his best mate for more than 40 years, and the balance being the usual inshore race crew; there was seven crew in total. The Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race started in the waters of the Gulf of St Vincent off Adelaide. Forty boats left the Outer Harbour/North Haven Marina in Adelaide on a Friday about 3.00pm. It is "South Australia’s Premier Ocean Race" and, now in its 69th year, it has proven that it provides all the challenges of a Category 3 offshore race. The route takes the fleet southwest from Adelaide to Marion Reef at the foot of York Peninsula along the foot to Cape Spencer. Then, the fleet heads northwest past Wedge and Thistle Islands and Dangerous Reef to Port Lincoln. The race started with a port tack beat for 35.0nm. After passing Marion Reef, the course freed up. SCARLET RUNNER 11 put up the code zero and was doing 14 knots with the occasional knock down. Unfortunately, the zero did not last the distance. After passing the bottom of the York Peninsula, the J/111 went into downwind VMG running mode as the wind pressure dropped. The final 20.0nm had them running downwind under A1 spinnaker. SCARLET RUNNER 11 achieved the fastest time for this section of the race. The distance race was then followed by the Teakle Classic Lincoln Regatta with a mix of inshore and coastal courses over four days. The fleet sailed six races. At the conclusion of the regatta, after all points scored for the Adelaide to Port Lincoln Race and the Lincoln Race Week, it was SCARLET RUNNER 11 that topped the Division 1 leaderboard, scoring first on AMS (9 points), first on PHS and second by just two points on IRC.

Paul Heys

Hamble-based yacht sales business Key Yachting Ltd, have made the truly sad and shocking announcement that Paul Heys, co-founder and Managing Director, has passed away. Paul was enjoying a much-deserved holiday in the Caribbean with his wife Marie-Claude and came into difficulties while swimming on Monday morning. Paul was a much-loved Husband, Dad, Brother and Granddad, and was greatly admired in the sailing community; sailing was his life and passion. Paul will be missed terribly by everyone who knew him. Details of the funeral arrangements will be made available once finalised.

Sun and Ruhlmans Shine on the St. Petersburg NOOD

It was another beautiful day for the final races of the Helly Hansen National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta St. Petersburg. Once the sea breeze filled in, racing got underway and most Classes completed two races for a regatta total of eight to nine races. In the five-boat J/111 fleet, Rob Ruhlman’s Spaceman Spiff nailed first place with 18 points (2-3-1-1-3-1-1-2-4). Jeffrey Davis’ Shamrock took second with 21 points, and Ian Hill’s Sitella third also with 21 points. For complete event details, visit https://www.sailingworld.com/tags/helly-hansen-nood-regatta-st-petersburg.